Filing cabinet



G. E. WATKINS FILING CABINET May 21, 1940.

Filed Oct. 25, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet, 1

y 1, 1940. e. E. WATKINS 2,201,948

FILING CABINET Filed Oct. 23, 1936 Sheets-Sheet 2 w 1m w 22 Patented May 21, 1940 UNITED STATES FILING CABINET George E. Watkins, Tonawanda, N. Y., assignor to Remington Rand Inc., Buifalo, N. Y.

Application October 23, 1936, Serial No. 107,221

15 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in filing cabinets and particularly to an improved fire resistant file adapted to contain ledger or card holding trays and the like.

The invention is an improvement over the filing cabinet shown in Patent No. 1,943,997, patented January 16, 1934.

The filing cabinet, according to this invention, has a closure slidable from closed position to uncover the compartment and a swinging movement to open position where the closure is supported adjacent to a side wall of the cabinet. An improved closure supporting and operating mechanism is provided for supporting and guiding the cover in its sliding movement and also for receiving and supporting the cover during the swinging movement to the open position. This mechanism includes a novel lever arrangement having a rock member formed with a segment mounted for traveling movement on a track member mounted in the cabinet. In the rocking movement of the lever or rock member it will move toward and from the open end of the cabinet. This movement of the rock member in supporting the cover for movement to a position adjacent a side of the cabinet, is also utilized to operate the tray to lift it from the bottom of the compartment in the cabinet to the top or open side where the contents of the tray arereadily accessible.

A filing device is provided by the invention that is particularly useful for holding trays of ledger cards used in connection with machine accounting systems.

The invention further provides a cabinet having a fire resistant lining. In order to secure efficiency, the lever mechanism for supporting the closure in its swinging movement is designed for mounting inside of the compartment in the cabinet and so formed that the rock members will move toward the open end as the cover swings toward its open position. This movement will extend the arms around the open end of the cabinet and support the cover at a side thereof, and at the same time provide a means for elevating the tray to the open side of the compartment. The cover acts as a counterbalance for the tray and the rock member lever mechanism is particularly adapted for this counter-balancing operation due to the arrangement of the lever being such that a substantial mechanical advantage is gained in the use of the cover for counter-balancing purposes in the open position. The cover will hang adjacent to the side wall of the cabinet, and at the same time firmly support the tray at the I lever mechanism in the cabinet and mounting the Fig. 1.

upper end of the compartment. This is obtained through having the lever mechanism arranged so the resistance arm of the lever becomes shorter as the tray is elevated and when in the uppermost position the weight of the tray is applied to the lever in a position that is close to dead center.

The invention further comprehends the provision of means for automatically latching the cover to the lever mechanism as it is moved toward the open position so the cover first slides to practically uncover the compartment before it engages the lever mechanism with which it becomes automatically interlocked for subsequent swinging movement to'full open position adjacent 15 a side Wall of the cabinet. This mechanism operates automatically to release the closure in the closing movement thereof.

Other features of the invention reside in the novel manner of constructing and assembling the closure thereon for free sliding movement and providing at the same time for its sealing grooves to firmly intermesh with the sealing grooves and projectionson the edge of the cabinet so as to seal the joint around the closure.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical cross section through an insulated file cabinet constructed according to the invention, the closure being shown in closed position.

Fig. 2 is a cross section similar to Fig. 1 showing the closure in open position adjacent a side wall of the cabinet.

Fig. 3 is a cross section taken online 3-3 of.

Fig. 4 is a cross section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal cross section taken on line 55 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary cross section 40 taken through the cover andadjacent portion of the side wall of the cabinet with the cover in closed position and illustrating the lock construction for holding the cover locked in closed position.

Fig- 7 is a cross section taken on line 'l--'| of Fig. 6 showing another view of the lock mechanism. I

Fig. 8 is an enlarged cross sectiontaken substantially on line 8-8 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 illustrates the rock member and track construction detached from the cabinet and shown in perspective with portions broken away, to illustrate the details of construction.

Fig. is an enlarged detail cross section taken on line l0lll of Fig. 1.

The form of the invention illustrated in the drawings provides a cabinet i having an outer sheet metal casing 2, and a fire resistant lining 3, of suitable material. The cabinet has bottom and side walls and is open at the top. It is supported in any desired manner, a portion of a supporting stand 4 being illustrated. The cabinet is rectangular in shape and has a pair of the side walls indicated at 5 formed at the upper edges to provide an upwardly extending projection 5 at the inner edge of the wall, a groove i and an outer projection 8. The sheet metal casing is formed of one or more pieces in a desirable manner so as to extend around the edges of the wall 5 and protect the insulating material forming the liner for the casing. The side or end wall 9 has the inner face of the upper edge formed with a groove l8 extending transversely thereof while the portion l i forms a projection. The upper edge of the side wall above projection l l is cut away at the inner edge to form a seat E2. It will be noted in Fig. 1 that the projection and groove formation [9 and l l on side wall 9 faces or extends in a direction toward the opposite side of the cabinet in a plane substantially parallel with the upper edges.

The opposite side wall l3 of the cabinet is of less height than the walls 5 and i2 and at the upper edge is provided with a laterally and outwardly-directed transversely extending tongue it and adjacent groove l6. Tongue M and groove !6 face in the same direction as projection I! and groove iii.

A closure I! has a sheet metal outer casing 58 and an insulating lining of suitable material l9. The cross section thickness of closure H is approximately the same as that of the walls forming the cabinet. One end of the closure is formed with the tongue and groove formation indicated at 20, complementary to the groove i ii, projection H and angular portion [2. The opposite end of cover or closure H is formed with a lateral projection 2| having a tongue and groove formation indicated at 22 complementary to tongue M and groove [6. The sides of closure I? are provided with a downwardly projecting tongue and groove formation indicated in Fig. 3 at 23 complementary to the tongue and groove formation at 5, 7 and 8, along the upper side edges of the cabinet side walls. From this construction it will be seen that sealing cooperation between the cover and the body can be obtained when the usual sealing strips are positioned in the respective grooves in order that the interior of the cabinet will be sealed from external heat through the sealing action obtained by the tongue and groove joint formation in the closed position of the cover.

Closure I1 is slidable from the closed position toward the open position until the compartment is substantially uncovered. For this purpose a pair of channels 2 are mounted one on each side wall 5 in cut out portion 25 on the inner face of the side walls as shown in Figs. 1 and 8. These channel members extend horizontally from the Wall 9 toward side wall 13 and terminate short of side Wall l8. The upper flange of channel member 24 terminates short of the end thereof at the right-hand end as shown in Fig. 1 as indicated at 26. The left-hand end of closure I! as illustrated in Fig. 1 is provided with a pair of brackets 21 at opposite sides thereof mounting rollers 28 that engage in channels 2 1 for supporting and freely guiding the end of the cover in its movement to and from the closed position. At the opposite end of the cabinet bearing rollers 28 are mounted on the upper corners of track members 30 adjacent the upper edges of side walls 5 on the inside thereof, to support the right-hand end of the cover as shown in Fig. l. Rollers 28 and 29 support the cover for free sliding movement into compartment uncovering position. Closure I! is moved to the right as shown in Fig. 1 in its sliding movement to uncover the compartment until rollers 23 reach the end 26 of the upper flange on channel members 2 2. When the cover reaches this position it is then free to swing around the edge of side wall l3 into a position adjacent side wall it as illustrated in Fig. 2.

The track members 30 are provided to support closure l! for the swinging movement above described, and are seated in side walls 5 as shown in Fig. 1 on the inside face of the walls in a recess in the side Walls of a depth sufficient to receive the track members as shown in Fig. 5. The ends of channel members 24 terminate in abutment with the adjacent edge of track members 30 as clearly seen in Fig. 1. Track members 3% are provided with metal flanges (H at opposite edges terminating in inturned flanges 32 to form inwardly facing channels. One of the inturned flanges 32 has a laterally extending track portion formed thereon as clearly shown in Fig. 9. Each track member 30 has a toothed rack segment 34 secured in the channel at the side provided with track portion 33. It will be noted in Fig. 1 that the channels and flanges on track member 30, extend vertically. The channel and flange portion of each track member 3a) mounting rack segment 34 is positioned adjacent to side wall IS.

A pair of rock members 35 have corresponding parts formed as will be apparent from Fig. 9 to provide a right and a left-hand rock member. Rock members 35 are in the form of hell crank levers having one end formed to provide a segment 36 and a stop 3! at one end thereof. A gear segment 33 is mounted on each segment 35 with the pitch line of the gear teeth in coincident relation with the periphery of segment 36. Gear segments 38 intermesh with the teeth on rack 36 while the periphery of segment will ride on track 33 of track member 30 in the rocking motion of each rock member 35. A pivot roller 39 is mounted on each rock member 35 with its axis in co-axial relation to gear segment 33 and segment 36. The periphery of each roller 39 rides on flange 3| of track member 30 opposite to rack segment 34 and provides a moving pivot mounting for each rook member 35 in one track member 30.

An angularly extending arm 4! is formed on the opposite end of arm 40 from segment 36. Arms 48 and l! together with segment 38 are formed from stamped sheet metal, one edge of each arm t! having an inwardly extending flange 62 formed thereon. The free end of arms 4! are formed with extensions 43. A cross bar 44 hav- 'ing offset portions 45 at opposite ends and laterally extending flanges 46 on said offset portions is secured to the free ends of arms ii and extensions 43. A rigid rock member construction is thus provided having both rock members 35 connected so as to operate in unison. The struc ture in effect provides a imitary rock member that is designed to support closure 5? for swinging movement.

Bar 4 3 connecting rock members 35 is of channel shape in cross section, as illustrated in Fig. l, and is formed adjacent opposite ends with slots '4'! in the laterally extending channel-forming flange portion 48 thereof. Closure l! is equipped with a pair of bracket members 45 formed of sheet metal having laterally extending flanges 55 provided with tongues 5% extending laterally from the flange, parallel to the base of the brackets and aligned to engage in openings M of cross bar i l. Brackets 45 are mounted at opposite sides of the closure on the under face as shown in Figs. 1 and 5, adjacent the lefthand end of the closure, as illustrated.

Tongues 5i engage in openings i? as the cover is slidably moved toward the right as illustrated in Fig. l, and flange 59 will engage channelforming flange 53 of cross member 44 so as to arrest movement of closure l'l relative to r'ock members 35 after this point is reached. In order to latch or hold closure I? connected to cross bar 4 3 against accidental detachment, bearing brackets 2'! are provided with laterally extending flanges 52 that engage the face of inwardly extending flanges 52 adjacent the upper end.

An automatic latch for securing the closure to the rock member has a dog 53 pivoted intermediate its ends at 54 on the end of arm 4| of rock member 35 adjacent to bar 54. One end of dog 53 projects through a slot 55 in flange 42 and has a latching projection 55 on the end engaging over lateral extension 52 so as to retain it in engagement with flange 42. A spring 5'! has a central looped portionengaging around pivot 54 with one end engaging over the laterally extending projection 58 on the opposite end of the dog from projection 55, while the opposite end of the spring is engaged with ofiset 45 of cross bar 45. Spring 5! normally rocks dog 53 on pivot 54 so as to move the end projecting through slot 55 to the upper limit of movement in the slot, which position is shown in Fig. 9. An actuating pin 59 is mounted on dog 53 at the end portion formed with projection 58. Pin 59 projects through slot 55 in arm ll and lies in the path of the lower flange on channel member 24. Dog 53 is positioned so that actuating pin 59 Will engage the lower flange of channel member 24 just prior to the time when rock members 35 reach their inner limit of movement as shown in Fig. 1. This will provide a slight additional movement of the rock member after actuating pin 59 engages the flange on channel member 24 to secure pivotal movement of dog 53 for moving projection 55 out of line and out of engagement with lateral projection 52 whereupon closure ll may be slidably moved to the closed position as shown in Fig. 1.

It will be understood from the foregoing that when closure l! is slidably moved toward open position to uncover the compartment, closure i! will be given a slight swinging movement after projections 5i engage in slots 4'! to move the cover and rock members a sufficient amount in their rotation toward the open position of the cover to allow actuating pin 5.) to become disengaged from the lower flange of channel 24 before latch projection 55 on dog 53 engages over lateral flange 52 and locks the cover to the rock member. After this, swinging movement of the cover toward open position causes the rock members through the gear segment 38 and rack 34 to move upwardly toward the open end of cabinet I durim. which motion arm 4! of each rock member 35 move around the free edge of side wall I3 into the position shown in Fig. 2 at which time stop projection 31 on each rock member 35 will engage the upper end portion of track members 3!]. When this position is reached, as shown in Fig. 2, the coverwill hang downwardly adjacent side wall iii of the cabinet. Rubber cushions 5| may be provided on frame 4 to receive the edge of the cover as shown in Fig. 2.

A tray 62 is mounted in the compartment of the cabinet for movement toward and from the open upper end. Suitable parallel motion mechanism indicated at 63is connected with the tray and cabinet so the tray will be uniformly moved to and from the open side of the cabinet. Operation of closure I1 and rock members 35 is used to move tray 52 to and from the open side of the cabinet. For this purpose tray 62 is provided on opposite sides with channel members 64 that receive rollers 55 mounted on projections 66 formed at the juncture of arms 4!] and M of rock members 35.

As the rock member moves upwardly and rotates outwardly around the edge of side wall I3, rollers 55 describe an upward arcuate path of movement from the position shown in Fig. l to the position shown in Fig. 2 and as it moves between these positions it travels between the ends of channel members 64 and lifts tray 62 upwardly from the position shown in Fig. 1 at the bottom of the cabinet compartment to the open upper end as shown in Fig. 2. It will be noted that rollers 55 move toward the vertical dead center line of the pivot axis for rock members 55 so that when the open position of the cover is reached and the tray is supported at the open side of the cabinet, the weight of closure l'l effectively counter-balances the weight of the tray and its contents so as to eliminate any tendency for the tray to move up and down in the cabinet while it is being used. As a result the cover holds the tray rigidly in the uppermost position. The tray is adapted to receive card files and the like and is especially adapted for mounting ledger trays carrying machine bookkeeping cards or sheets.

Handles are provided at opposite ends of the cover and are indicated at 61 and 68, respectively. This provides for operation of the closure from either side of the cabinet.

Closure H is provided with a suitable lock mechanism for locking the closure in closed position. This includes lock lever 69 pivoted intermediate its ends on pins '10 carried by supporting bracket ll mounted on the under face of closure ll adjacent projection 2|. A spring 12 has one end engaged in an opening in look member 69, the intermediate portion formed with coils engaged around pivot pin 10 and the opposite end engaged with the under face of closure E]. The spring normally operates to move 10 ing latch 69 into locking position as shown in Fig. 7.

One end portion of locking member 59 is provided with a lateral extension 13 that is engaged by operating plunger Hi projecting through closure ii and guided in a supporting and guide tube 75. Operating plunger "M is formed in two sections and 11, the portion 15 being formed of suitable material having a low heat conductivity while portion 11 is formed of metal and projects through an escutcheon plate 18 applied to the outer cover N3 of closure [1. The outer end of portion ll of operating member 14 forms a button by which member 14 may be actuated in the operation of lock member 69.

Portion ll of actuating member M is provided with notch 80 that is adapted to receive a locking projection operated by and forming part of a key operated lock 8! of conventional form. The arrangement is such that the key operated lock 8| locks actuating rod M in the position shown in Fig. 6 so that closure I! is locked in closed position against sliding movement. This lock mechanism is so constructed and operated that when it is desired to move closure I! to open position, operating plunger 74 is depressed to move locking member 69 into position so that the cover may be slidably moved toward open position.

As soon as locking member 69 has passed the upper edge of side wall IE it may be released. Upon closing movement of the cover, inclined face 82 on the upper edge of projection l4 formed on side wall 13 cams locking member 69 into position so the cover is readily closed, and as soon as it reaches the closed position, locking member 69 automatically drops into locking position. This is necessary in a fire resistant file construction for the protection of the contents of the compartment against destruction by fire.

It frequently occurs that the cabinet will be in use when a fire occurs and in the haste of the operators to get out of a building where the file is located they will merely shove the cover up and slide it to closed position, sometimes not having time to operate a lock mechanism to lock the cover shut. Since this lock mechanism operates automatically when the cover is closed, it will be seen that it will be retained closed. The sealing grooves and projections co-act with one another in closed position of the closure and this operates to prevent the admission of fire to the compartment in the cabinet. The lock mechanism holds the closure in closed position even though the cabinet may fall in the destruction of a building by fire and be subjected to jars that would throw the cover off or into open position, if it were not for the automatic locking of the closure in the closed position.

It will be noted that mechanism for mounting the closure for movement between open and closed positions is arranged within the compartment in the cabinet so as to eliminate the necessity for having heat conducting metal parts that support the closure extending through the insulating material in order to operate the tray. The lock mechanism is constructed with material that is designed to eliminate heat conduction through the insulating material and in this way efiicient insulation of the contents of the compartment is obtained.

The rock member 35 has cycloid motion since it has a movable pivot and circumference on which the lever travels defined by the pitch line of the gear segment or the periphery of segment 36. Since the lever arm connected with the closure is longer than the radius of the circle of rotation the movement of the member involves the principle of a curtate cycloid. This type of lever mechanism for supporting and operating the closure and tray being used in bell crank form has a particular advantage in a file construction of this character. It occupies a relatively small space, provides for the use of relatively short lever arms and with the cycloid motion utilizes the weight of the cover in relation to the weight of the tray in various positions of each between opposite limits of movement in cooperation with the movement of the rock member to obtain emcient counterbalancing of the tray.

The efiective weight of the cover for counterbalancing the tray varies as it moves from the horizontal open position to the vertical open position shown in Fig. 2. To compensate for this variation the use of the cycloid motion of the rock member enables the leverage on the tray to be varied with various positions of the rock memher and cover in obtaining more efiicient and uniform counterbalancing.

The invention claimed is:

l. A file, comprising a cabinet formed to provide a compartment open at one side, a closure for the open side of said cabinet slidable into open and closed positions and movable to lie adjacent a side of said cabinet, a vertically extending track member on said cabinet, a rock member mounted on said track member for vertical rocking movement and linear travel on said track member; and means on said rock member and closure for detachably connecting said closure to said member whereby said rock member is engaged and supports said closure during the last portion of said opening and the first portion of said closing movement from said position adjacent a side of said cabinet.

2. A file, comprising a cabinet formed to provide a compartment open at one side, a closure for the open side of said cabinet, a rock member having a gear segment, a track member mounted on said cabinet mounting said rock member for travelling movement thereon between the ends and having a rack meshing with said gear segment to provide positive uniform travel of said rock member, and cooperating parts on said rock member and closure for mounting said closure thereon for movement toward open and closed positions, having the closure supported adjacent a side wall of said cabinet in the open position.

3. A file, comprising a cabinet formed to provide a compartment open at one side, a closure for the open side of said cabinet, a rock member, a track member mounting said rock member on said cabinet for rocking movement and lineal travel in said movement between the ends of said track member toward and from the open side of said cabinet, and cooperating parts on said closure and rock member detachably mounting said closure thereon for movement toward open and closed positions, the open position of said closure being beside a side wall of said cabinet.

4. A file, comprising a cabinet formed to provide a compartment open at one side, a closure for the open side of said cabinet, rock means mounted on said cabinet, latch means detachably securing said closure to said rock means when said closure reaches a partially open position, said rock means thereafter supporting said closure for swinging movement thereon to a position adjacent a side of said cabinet, and means for operating said latch means to release the connection of said closure with said rock member as the 010-- sure reaches a partially closed position whereafter the closure is independently moved into closed position.

5. A file, comprising a cabinet formed to provide a compartment open at one side, a closure for the open side of said cabinet, and means for attaching said closure to said cabinet for sliding and swinging movement into an open position adjacent a side wall of said cabinet, said means having a rock member provided with a segment and detachably mounting said closure, and a track member receiving said segment mounted on the side of said cabinet adjacent said open side, said segment travelling on said track member toward said open side when said closure is swung to open position on said rock member.

6. A file, comprising a cabinet formed to provide a compartment open at one side, a closure for the open side of said cabinet, a rock member having means on one end for engaging said closure, a segment formed on the other end and a roller bearing concentric with said segment, and means on said cabinet receiving said roller bearing and segment for mounting said rock member for travelling movement thereon whereby said closure detachably engages said rock member during movement toward open position and is thereafter supported by said rock member for swinging movement to hang adjacent a side wall of said cabinet in full open position.

'7. A file, comp-rising a cabinet formed to provide a compartment open at one side, a closure for the open side of said cabinet, a tray movable in said compartment toward and from said open side, and a rock member mounted in said compartment and having a fulcrum travelling toward and from the open side of said cabinet during rocking motion thereof, said rock member having spaced parts thereon engaging said tray and closure, said closure engaging and operating said rock member in the opening movement thereof to move said tray to the open side of said cabinet, and said rock member supporting said closure for movement to open position adjacent a side Wall of said cabinet.

8. A file, comprising a cabinet formed to provide a compartment open at one side, a closure for the open side of said cabinet, a bell-crank lever mounted to travel toward and from the open side of said cabinet, a tray in said compartment movable to and from said open side, a part on said bell-crank engaging a part on said tray, and cooperating parts on said bell-crank and closure for detachably connecting said closure to said bell-crank when said closure is partly open, whereby said closure will be supported by said bellcrank to move to an open position beside a side of said cabinet and said tray will be moved by said bell-crank to the open side of said cabinet.

9. A file, comprising a cabinet formed to provide a compartment open at the top, a closure for said open top slidable on the upper portions of the side walls of said cabinet to uncover said compartment, a tray in saidcompartment, rock members mounted on said cabinet in said compartment for translational movement toward and from said open top, means connecting said rock members with said tray, and cooperating parts on said closure and rock members in aligned relation when said closure is in closed position and automatically interengaging when the cover is moved to uncover said compartment, to attach said closure to said rock members for support thereon and further movement to and from a position adjacent a side of said cabinet, said rock members moving said tray to the open side of said compartment when the cover is adjacent the side of said cabinet.

10. A file, comprising a cabinet formed to provide a compartment open at its upper end, a tray in said compartment, a closure for the open end of said compartment slidable to uncover said compartment and movable to be adjacent a side of said cabinet, rock members mounted in said compartment for translational motion to and from said open end and having parts connected to said tray, said rock members moving said tray to the open end of said compartment in movement thereof toward said open end, parts on said closure and rock members engageabie and disengageable in the movement of said closure for detachably locking said closure and rock members together during part of the movement of said closure, said closure being supported by and moving said rock members during its movement to andfrom said position beside a side of said cabinet, said closure counterbalancing said tray.

11. A file, comprising a cabinet formed to provide a compartment open at the upp r end, a tray in said compartment having guide ways on its sides, a closure slidable onsaid cabinet to uncover the open end of said compartment, upwardly extending trackways in said compartment, bellcrank levers having segments on one end mounted in said trackways for vertical travelling movement, projections on said bell-crank levers engaging in the guide-ways on said tray, means detachably connecting said closure to the opposite end of said bell-crank levers as it moves to compartment uncovering position for thereafter supporting said closure for operation of said levers thereby to move the closure to a position adjacent a side wall of said cabinet, said levers simultaneously moving said tray to the open end of said compartment.

12. A file, comprising a cabinet formed to provide a compartment open at the upper end, a tray in said compartment having guide-ways on its sides, a closure slidable on said cabinet to uncover the open end of said compartment, upwardly extending channel members on the inner sides of said cabinet in said compartment, having rack teeth at one side thereof, bell-crank levers having gear segments on one end meshing in said rack teeth, rollers on said levers concentric with said segments engaging the sides of said channel members opposite said rack teeth and providing a movable pivot for said bell-crank levers, rollers u on said levers spaced from said first mentioned rollers and segments engaging in the guide-ways on said tray, a cross-bar connecting the opposite ends of said levers, and hooks on said closureengaging said cross bar for detachably connecting said closure thereto for moving said levers to raise said tray to the open end of said compartment, said levers supporting said closure for movement to and from a position adjacent a side of said cabinet.

13. A file, comprising a cabinet formed to provide a compartment open at one side, a rock member, means mounting said rock member in said cabinet for movement toward and from said open end in a cycloidal path, a closure for the open side of said cabinet, and means for attachingv said closure to said rock member for movement with the rock member during at least a portion of the opening and closing movement of said closure.

14. A file, comprising a cabinet formed to provide a compartment open at one side, a tray movably mounted in said compartment for movement toward and from said open side, a rock member in said compartment, means mounting said rock member in saidcabinet for movement in a cycloidal path in said cabinet, means connecting said tray and rock member for producing a translating movement of said tray in the cycloidal movement of said rock member, a closure for the open side of said cabinet, and means for connecting said closure to said rock member for support and movement thereby during at least part of the opening and closing movement, wherein the cover serves to move the tray through said rock member back and forth from the open end of said cabinet.

15. A file, comprising a cabinet formed to provide a compartment open at one side, a closure for the open side of said cabinet slidable on said cabinet into partially open and closed positions and movable to lie adjacent a side of said cabinet, a rock member mounted in said cabinet for back and forth rocking motion and for limited translational movement toward and from said open side, means on said rock member and closure for detachably connecting said closure to said member at the end of said sliding movement toward open position whereby said rock member supports said closure during further opening and corresponding closing movement to said position adjacent a side of said cabinet, sealing means on said cabinet and closure cooperating in the closed position of said closure, and locking means on said closure for engaging said cabinet and locking said closure in closed sealed position against sliding movement.

GEORGE E. WATKINS. 

